Opera launching Blink-based HTML5 for smart TVs, Android devices

Opera Software is to launch what it says is the industry’s first Blink-based HTML5 rendering engine on smart TVs and Android L-based TVs this year. 

Opera said its software development kit 4.x series will launch on Android TVs by long-term Opera Software OEM partner Sony, with the Opera Devices SDK 3.x series delivered on connected-TV devices using Android Open Source from TCL.

Blink is a variation on Webkit, the open-source browser engine, tailored for Google Chrome.

“HTML5 has proven to be the harmonizing factor in a complex and fragmented industry with many operating systems, regional standards and plug-in frameworks. When our TV partners announced their Android plans, Opera’s latest TV solutions were a natural fit,” said Aneesh Rajaram, Senior Vice-President for TV and Devices, Opera Software. “Manufacturers seek a certain degree of freedom on the OS layer, to differentiate the user experience. But, as we’ve experienced, content owners are keen to re-use their investments in HTML5 apps for TV, and this is precisely where we can add value to manufacturers launching Android TV.”